Sample supply apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supplying a series of samples to an analyzer, through a tubular element and also for supplying a wash liquid to the tubular element after each of the samples. A radial arm turret having a wash cup upon the end thereof is provided with a drive for rotating the arm through a plurality of stations. A sample carrier is rotatably mounted on the arm and has a plurality of index positions each holding a sample cup with respect to said arm. Gear means between the arm and carrier causes the carrier to rotate a predetermined amount each time the arm rotates 360*, thereby advancing the carrier one index position during each rotation of the turret. The carrier orbits around the rotational axis of the arm so that the carrier is moved toward and away from at least one of the plurality of said stations whereby a series of points on the carrier and one point on the arm can sequentially and alternately occupy the same station during continued rotary movement of said turret. Means are provided for advancing the turret and carrier alternately toward the tubular element so that the sample and wash liquid may be supplied therethrough.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edwin W. Smith Climax Township,Kalamazoo County, Mich. 211 Appl. No. 823,776 [22] Filed May 12, 1969[45] Patented June 1, 197i [73] Assignee The Upjohn Company Kalamazoo,Mich.

[54] SAMPLE SUPPLY APPARATUS l2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 73/423, 74/86,141/130 [51] lnt.Cl G0ln1/02 [50] FieldotSearch 73/61.1C, 64.1, 421 23/253, 259; 74/86; 141/130 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,248 7/1952 Gorham t 141/130 2,894,5427/1959 Alm 141/130 3,252,327 5/l966 Ferrari 73/423A 3,301,065 1/1967Fahrenbach et al. 73/423A 3,430,495 3/1969 Burge 73/423A 3,449,9596/1969 Grimshaw ABSTRACT: An apparatus for supplying a series of samplesto an analyzer, through a tubular element and also for supplying a washliquid to the tubular element after each of the samples. A radial armturret having a wash cup upon the end thereof is provided with a drivefor rotating the arm through a plurality of stations. A sample carrieris rotatably mounted on the arm and has a plurality of index positionseach holding a sample cup with respect to said arm. Gear means betweenthe arm and carrier causes the carrier to rotate a predetermined amounteach time the arm rotates 360, thereby advancing the carrier one indexposition during each rotation of the turret. The carrier orbits aroundthe rotational axis of the arm so that the carrier is moved toward andaway from at least one of the plurality of said stations whereby aseries of points on the carrier and one point on the am can sequentiallyand alternately occupy the same station during continued rotary movementof said turret. Means are provided for advancing the turret and carrieralternately toward the tubular element so that the sample and washliquid may be supplied therethrough.

minim-mm m sum 3 or 4 PATENTE U Jun 1 I97! SHEU R 0F 4 INVENTOR.

SAMPLE SUPPLY APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toa rotary indexing mechanism and, more particularly, to a type thereoffor intermittently and repeatedly rotating one member through aplurality of stations while spaced points on another member aresequentially moved into and out of coincident relationship with one ofsaid stations, the one member being indexed with respect to the othermember between appearances of said one member at said one station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention developed from a need forpresenting, automatically and intermittently, plural quantities of serumand washing solution to a probe, which withdraws the serum from acontainer and deposits it into test equipment such as a serum analyzer.Before the probe can be used for another test sample of serum, the probemust be flushed and thereby cleaned with a sterile liquid. Previousmechanisms intended for this purpose are complicated to build, difiicultto maintain and not always reliable in performance.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a rotaryindex mechanism to deliver sequentially plural fluid samples to a probe,each such delivery being followed by the washing of the probe.Simultaneously, the carrier for the fluid samples is indexed so that anew fluid sample is delivered to the probe after every delivery of thewashing fluid, but without requiring a separate source of cleaning fluidfor each sample.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a rotary indexmechanism in which fluid samples are supported on a carrier which ismoved toward and away from a point where said samples are presented oneafter another following each movement of the carrier.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary indexmechanism, as aforesaid, which may be inexpensively manufactured andeasily maintained.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary indexmechanism as aforesaid, in which the carrier containing fluid samplescan be easily removed from the remainder of the index mechanism andreplaced with a new carrier containing a fresh set of fluid sampleswithout adjusting the alignment of the carrier or the fluid samples withrespect to the probe.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to personsacquainted with mechanisms of this general type upon reading thefollowing specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. II is a perspective view of the rotary index mechanism embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the rotary index mechanism in a first positionof operation and with the carrier illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line III-IIIin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rotary index mechanism in a second positionof operation;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the rotary index mechanism in a third positionof operation;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view as seen along the line VII-VII of FIG. 4;and

FIG. 8 is a partially broken line view of a modified gear chain andturret arm for use in index mechanism.

For convenience in description, the words up," "down," right" and left"will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made.The words in" and out" will refer to directions toward and away from,respectively, the geometric center of the mechanism and designated partsthereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similarimport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention aremet by providing a turret having an arm rotated through a plurality ofDETAILED DESCRIPTION A rotary index mechanism 10 (FIG. 1) embodying theinvention may be mounted on a cabinet structure 11 by means including amounting plate 12 (FIG. 6) secured to the cabinet structure 11 by screws13. A bracket 14 is secured to the mounting plate 12 and projectsoutwardly therefrom. A pair of spaced guides 16 and 17 (FIG. 5) aresecured to the mounting plate 12 above the plate 14 and extend upwardlytherefrom. The opposing surfaces of theguides l6 and 17 are providedwith elongated races 21 and 22, respectively, in which plural bearingballs 18 are disposed. A slide 19 is disposed between the guides 16 and17, and it has a pair of elongated races 28 and 29 on the side surfacesthereof which oppose the races 21 and 22, respectively, on the guides 16and 17. The bearing balls 18 also extend into the races 28 and 29.

A support table 23 (FIG. 6) is secured to and extends horizontally froma vertical plate 26, which is secured to the slide 19.

A power cylinder 32 is secured to the underside of the table 23 andextends downwardly therefrom. The rod 33 of the power cylinder 32 isthreaded at its lower end and received through an opening (not shown) inthe bracket 14 where it is secured against movement by the nuts 34 and36 positioned on opposite sides of the bracket 14.

A drive motor .37 is secured to the underside of the horizontal table 23and the shaft 38 thereof extends upwardly through an opening 39 in thetable 23 and has a drive gear 41 secured thereto.

A stub shaft 42 is secured to the horizontal table 23 and extendsupwardly therefrom. A thrust-bearing plate 43 encircles the stub shaft42 and rests on the upper surface of the table 23. A sleeve 44, which istelescoped over the stub shaft 42 and slideably rests on thethrust-bearing plate 43, is separated from the stub shaft 42 by bearings46. A gear 47 is secured to the periphery of the sleeve 44 near itsupper end and is in meshing engagement with the drive gear 41.

A turret arm or member 49 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 44and is rotatable therewith around the axis of the stub shaft 42. Theupper end of the stub shaft 42 extends through an opening 52 in theturret am 49 and has a small gear 53 secured thereto.

A stub shaft 54 is secured to the turret arm 49 and extends upwardlytherefrom. A gear 56 is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 54 and is inmeshing engagement with the gear 53 on the stub shaft 42. A gear 57 iscoaxially secured to the upper surface of the gear 56 and is rotatabletherewith about the axis of the stub shaft 54.

A stub shaft 58 (FIG. 6) is secured to the turret arm 49 and extendsupwardly therefrom. In this particular embodiment, the axis of the stubshafts 58 and 54 are on diametrically opposite sides of the shaft 42. Agear 59 is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 58 and is in meshingengagement with the gear 57. A pair of pins 61 are secured to and extendupwardly from the gear 59 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

A carrier 62 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is mounted on the upper surface of the gear59 and has openings 63 (FIG. 6) into which the pins 61 are received toposition properly the gear 59 and the carrier 62 relative to each other.The carrier 62 has a plurality of openings 64 (FIG. 1) therein adjacentto the periphery thereof which receive and position a plurality of smallcups 66 adapted to hold fluid samples.

The turret member 49 (FIGS. 1 and 6) extends radially beyond theperipheral edge of the carrier 62, and a wash cup 68 is secured to andextends upwardly from the outer end of said member 49. The wash cup 68,which holds a washing solution, is movable with the turret member 49along a circular path concentric with the axis of the stub shaft 42whereby the wash cup 68 is moved into and out of a station below andaligned with a probe 71 illustrated in FIG. 6.

A bracket 72 (FIGS. 1 and 7) is secured upon the upper surface of thecabinet structure 11 by a pair of screws 73 and extends upwardlytherefrom. A tubular element 74 is clamped to the bracket 72 and has anozzle portion 76 which extends over and is directed downwardly towardthe circular path followed by the wash cup 68 on the outer end of thearm 49. The tubular element 74 is supplied with a washing solution froma reservoir 77 through a pump 78 and valve 79 operated by a control 81schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. The control 81 may be of anyconvenient type having switch means responsive to movement of the arm 49whereby the valve 79 is opened and closed as a function of the positionof the turret member 49. The valve 79 is connected to control 81 by line87. The control 81 also governs the energization of the motor 37 throughlines 82 and 83, schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. The control 81further governs the energization of the cylinder 32 through fluid lines84 and 86.

In response to the movement or the position of the turret member 49, asignal will be sent to the control 81 whereby pressure fluid passesthrough the lines 84 and 86 to either extend the rod 33 and therebyraise the support table 23, or retract the rod 33 and lower the table 23and carrier 62.

Other signals received by the control 81, including those from a timer88, will be sent through the line 87 to the valve 79 (FIG. 7) to controlthe amount of washing solution delivered through the tubular element 74and nozzle 76 to the wash cup 68. It is also contemplated that thecontrol 81 will effect the energization and deenergization of the motor37 through the lines 82 and 83 to advance the turret member 49 to thenext station.

In this particular embodiment, the carrier 62 (FIG. 1) is illustrated asholding 40 sample cups 66, but carriers capable of carrying more or lesscups can also be used. The gear train comprising the gears 53, 56, S7and 59 (FIG. 2) are of such size and shape that, during each rotation ofthe arm 49, the carrier 62 will rotate one-fortieth of a 360 revolutionwith respect to the turret arm 49. More particularly, and in onesuccessful embodiment, the gears have the following number of teeththereon:

Number of Gear Number: teeth 53 12 56 48 57 12 59 120 Accordingly,during each 360 rotation of the arm 49, the carrier rotates 9 andresolves 360. Due to the specific gear chain disclosed above, therotation of the carrier is in the reverse direction as compared to therotation of the arm 49.

OPERATION Although the operation of the mechanism described above willbe understood from the foregoing description by skilled persons, asummary of such description is now given for convenience.

The turret member 49 is rotated by the drive motor 37 acting through thegears 41 and 47. It will be assumed, for purposes of discussion, thatthe rotary index mechanism is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 atthe beginning of a cycle of operation. In this position, one of thesample cups 66A is directly below and aligned with the probe 71. If thecontrol is now energized, it will pass fluid to the power cylinder 32 sothat the support table 23, turret member 49 and carrier 62 are elevatedwhereby the probe 71 will be received into the sample cup 66A, as isillustrated in FIG. 3. Control circuitry (not shown) may be energized bythe raising of table 23 so that the liquid C in the sample cup 66A iswithdrawn into the probe 71 and delivered to test apparatus notillustrated.

At the completion of a predetermined amount of time, determined by thetimer 88, necessary for the probe 71 to remove the liquid C from thesample cup 66A, the control 81 will then initiate a signal to energizethe power cylinder 32 and retract the rod 33 to lower the support table23, turret member 49 and carrier 62 to their lowered positionsillustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3. At the completion of thismovement, the control 81 will initiate a signal to energize the motor 37through the lines 82 and 83 whereby the drive gear 41 will rotate thegear 47 and turret member 49, l around the axis of the stub shaft 42,where the wash cup 68 is positioned beneath the nozzle 76 on the tubularelement 74 (FIG. 4) and the motor 37 will be deenergized. A signal sentthrough the line 87 opens the valve 79 to permit the flow ofapredetermined quantity of washing solution from the reservoir 77 throughthe pump 78, the valve 79 and the nozzle 76 into the wash cup 68.

At the completion of the cup-filling operation, the control 81 willenergize the motor 37 to cause the turret member 49 to be rotated 60about the axis of the stub shaft 42 to the position illustrated in FIG.5 wherein the wash cup 68 is directly below and aligned with the probe71. The motor 37 is deenergized and pressure fluid is sent from thecontrol 81 through the lines 84 and 86 to actuate the power cylinder 32and extend the rod 33 to effect a vertical movement of the support table23, turret member 49 and carrier 62 to the dotted-line positionillustrated in FIG. 6 so that the probe 71 is received into the cup 68.At the completion of the vertical stroke by the power cylinder 32,circuitry (not illustrated) may be energized to effect a withdrawal ofthe washing solution from the cup 68 through the probe 71, therebypurging the probe 71 and conduits connected thereto of any residual ofthe fluid sample previously withdrawn by the probe.

After a predetermined amount of time, as determined by the timer 88, thecontrol 81 will again pass pressure fluid through the lines 84 and 86 toretract the rod 33 and thereby return the support table 23, turretmember 49 and carrier 62 back to their lowered, solid line positions inFIG. 6. After completion of the lowering stroke, the control 81 willenergize the motor 37 to rotate the turret member 49, l20 and back tothe starting position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Simultaneously with the foregoing steps of advancing the turret member49 in a circular path about the axis of the stub shaft 42, the rotarymovement of the turret member 49 will effect orbital movement of thestub shaft 54 around the stub shaft 42 and the gear 53. As a result, thegears 56 and 57 will be rotated relative to the stub shaft 54 to effectrotation of the gear 59, hence the carrier 62, about the stub shaft 58.In this particular embodiment, and utilizing the gears defined above,one complete revolution of the turret member 49 will cause the gears 56and 57 to rotate one-fourth of a revolution. Since, in this particularembodiment, the gear 57 has 12 teeth, onefourth of a revolution thereofwill effect a rotary movement of the gear 59 through three teeth of itsteeth, or one-fortieth of a revolution relative to the turret member 49.Thus, at the completion of the above-described revolution of the turretmember 49, the next sample cup 66B (FIG. 2) will be moved to a positiondirectly below and aligned with the probe 71. However, since the carrier62 rotates with the turret member, the carrier actually rotates one andone-fortieth revolution relative to the cabinet structure 11.

It is important to note that, during the aforedescribed movement, thecarrier 62 is moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein oneof the sample cups 66A is beneath the probe 71, to the positionillustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the carrier 62 is at its remotes! positionfrom the probe 71 the position of probe 71 being indicated by point 89.Thus, the probe 71 can be caused to discharge the fluid sample intoanalytical or test equipment located within the cabinet structure 11,without interference from the arm 49 or carrier 62. Such equipment maybe a gas chromatograph, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stub shaft 42 is located between the stub shaft54 and the stub shaft 58. However, the gear 59 could be placed upon thediametrically opposite side of the gear 57 and rotatably supported by astub shaft mounted upon a leftward extension of the arm 49. Thisarrangement is shown in FIG. 8 by the locations of the gears 56B and 598with respect to the gear 53. That is, the stub shaft 42 and the gear 53in FIG. 8 remain in the same positions relative to the expanded arm 49Aas they do in FIG. 2 relative to the arm 49. However, the arm 49A has anextension 92 which supports the stub shaft 588 for rotatably supportingthe gear 598. The shaft 548 and the gears 56B and 57B remain the same astheir corresponding parts 54, 56 and 57in FIG. 2.

In addition to the foregoing, another set of gears 56A, 57A

and 59A are mounted upon shafts 54A and 58A, respectively. in a manneridentical to the arrangement and support of the gears 56B, 57B and 598,just described. The arm 49A has an extension 93 to support theshaft 58A.Accordingly, a pair of carriers 62A and 628 can be supported upon thegears 59A and 59B, respectively, for sequential movement into and out ofa position beneath a probe. Each carrier will be indexed one position,as described above with respect to the carrier 62, during each 360rotation of the arm 49A around the axis of the shaft 42.

This double-carrier arrangement would be particularly well suited tocircumstances where each test sample must be promptly compared with astandard. The carrier 62A could support containers holding samples of astandard fluid, for example, and carrier 628 could carry containersholding the fluid test samples. Under these circumstances, it would beadvantageous to provide a second arm 498 which is on the diametricallyopposite side of the shaft 42 from arm 49A for the purpose of carryinganother wash cup 688 similar to the cup 68A. This would permit purgingor flushing of the probe after each sample is taken. The arms 49A and49B are somewhat longer than the arm 49 in order to place their cups 68Aand 68B beneath the probe. This is required by the fact that the gears59A and 59B are remote from gear 53 rather than overlapping it, as shownin FIG. 2 with respect to gear 59.

it will be seen from the foregoing that many variations in gear chainarrangements can be provided to produce different results. For example,by moving the gear 59A away from direct engagement with the gear 57A andthen placing an idler gear in meshing engagement with both of the gears57A and 59A, the carriers 62A and 62B can be caused to rotate inopposite rotational directions. Furthermore, the shafts 58A and 588could be moved closer to each other while remaining at the samedistances from the shaft 42 and maintaining their engagement with thegears 57A and 573, respectively. Then, by raising one or the other ofthe gears 59A and 59B, the carriers 62A and 62B could be overlapped toconserve space or to facilitate their use.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations and modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege I claim are defined as follows:

1. A rotary mechanism, comprising:

arm means supported for rotation around an upright axis, a

point on said arm being moved through a plurality of stations;

carrier means mounted on said arm means for rotation with respect tosaid arm means around an upright axis, said carrier means having aplurality of locations thereon movable into and out of one of saidstations, said locations being occupied by removable receptaclesuniformly positioned along a circle concentric with the rotational axisof said carrier means;

upright cup means supported on said arm means at said point, saidreceptacles being moved sequentially into and out of said one stationand said cup means being moved into and out of said station followingeach receptacle;

drive means for rotating said arm means;

control means governing the operation of said drive means;

and

linkage means on said arm means rotating said carrier means in responseto rotation of said arm means, the angular displacement of said carriermeans being different than the angular displacement of said arm means.

2. A rotary mechanism, comprising:

arm means supported for rotation around an upright axis,

cup means on said arm means being moved through a plurality of stations;

carrier means rotatably mounted on said arm means and adapted to revolvearound said upright axis, said carrier means having a plurality ofreceptacles thereon movable into and out of one of said sections;

drive means for rotating said arm means;

control means governing the operation of said drive means;

and

linkage means on said arm means rotating and revolving said carriermeans in response to rotation of said arm means, the angulardisplacement of said carrier means being different than the angulardisplacement of said arm means. I

3. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, including a second rotatablecarrier means mounted on said arm means and adapted to revolve around anupright axis, said second carrier means having a plurality ofreceptacles thereon movable into and out of said one of said stations,the axes of rotation of the'first-mentioned carrier means and saidsecond carrier means being spaced and parallel; and

second linkage means on said arm means rotating and revolving saidsecond carrier means in response to rotation of said arm means, theangular displacement of said second carrier means being different thanthe angular displacement of said arm means.

4. A rotary mechanism according to claim ll, wherein the angulardisplacement in degrees of said arm means is an even multiple of theangular displacement in degrees of said carrier means during each 360revolution of said arm means.

5. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said arm meansrotates around a first upright axis and said carrier means rotatesaround a second upright axis spaced from said first axis, said cup meanson said arm means being spaced radially from said first axis a distancegreater than the radial distance between said second axis and thereceptacles on said carrier means.

6. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, including:

base means;

table means supported upon said base means for substantially verticalmovement with respect thereto, said arm means being rotatably supportedupon said table means; and

fluid-actuated means connected between table means and said base meansfor effecting said vertical movement of said table means, saidfluid-actuated means being operated by said control means.

7. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of saidarm'means is stopped when said cup means is positioned in three spacedstations around said rotational axis of said arm means, said cup meanson said arm means being in said one station when said carrier means issubstantially remote from said one station, and said cup means being inthe second one of said three stations when one of the receptacles onsaid carrier means is at said one station.

8. A rotary mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said one station isspaced from the other two stations by 180' and 60, respectively; and

including bracket means mounted adjacent the third one of said stationsand conduit means counted upon said bracket means and directed at saidcup means on said arm means when said cup means is in said thirdstation;

a source of washing liquid, said conduit means being connected to saidsource; and

valve means in said conduit means and connected to said control meansfor controlling the discharge of said liquid.

9. A rotary mechanism for intermittently and sequentially presenting aplurality of receptacles, comprising:

base means;

table means movably supported upon said base means for substantiallyvertical movement;

actuating means connected between said base means and said table meansfor effecting said vertical movement; drive means supported on saidtable means;

turret means supported on said table means and connected to said drivemeans, said turret means having arm means rotatable about a firstupright axis and carrier support means mounted upon said arm means forrotation around a second upright axis and revolution around said firstupright axis;

gear means supported on said arm means and effecting rotation andrevolution of said carrier support means in response to rotation of saidarm means, said carrier support means rotating a predetermined amount ofdegrees evenly divisible into 360 with each 360-rotation of said armmeans; and

control means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating meansand said drive means, said arm means having cup means intermittentlymoved into and out ofa plurality of stations.

10. A rotary mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said cup means isin one station when said carrier support means is substantially remotefrom said one station; and

wherein said table means and said turret means are raised and thenlowered by said actuating means when said cup means is in said onestation.

11. A rotary mechanism according to claim 9, including annular carriermeans supported upon said carrier support means in a predeterminedposition with respect thereto and concentric with said second axis, saidcarrier means having a plurality of uniformly spaced receptaclepositions arranged along the edge of said carrier means, said receptaclepositions defining a circle concentric with said second axis and beingmoved intermittently and sequentially into and out of said one station,one receptacle position being moved into said one station during eachrotation of said arm means.

12. A rotary mechanism, comprising:

arm means supported for rotation around an upright axis, a

point on said arm being moved through a plurality of stations; anannular member mounted on said arm means for rotation with respect tosaid arm means around an upright axis, said annular member having aplurality of receptacles thereon movable into and out of one of saidstations;

drive means for rotating said arm means, said drive means comprising amotor and first gear means connecting said motor to said arm means;

control means governing the operation of said drive means;

and

second gear means on said arm means connected between said first gearmeans and said annular member for rotat ing said annular member inresponse to rotation of said arm means, said annular member beingremovably supported by said second gear means and having a plurality ofuniformly spaced receptacle openings arranged in a circle around theedge thereof, said circle being concentric with said rotational axis ofsaid annular member, and the angular displacement of said annular memberbeing different than the angular displacement of said arm means.

1. A rotary mechanism, comprising: arm means supported for rotationaround an upright axis, a point on said arm being moved through aplurality of stations; carrier means mounted on said arm means forrotation with respect to said arm means around an upright axis, saidcarrier means having a plurality of locations thereon movable into andout of one of said stations, said locations being occupied by removablereceptacles uniformly positioned along a circle concentric with therotational axis of said carrier means; upright cup means supported onsaid arm means at said point, said receptacles being moved sequentiallyinto and out of said one station and said cup means being moved into andout of said station following each receptacle; drive means for rotatingsaid arm means; control means governing the operation of said drivemeans; and linkage means on said arm means rotating said carrier meansin response to rotation of said arm means, the angular displacement ofsaid carrier means being different than the angular displacement of saidarm means.
 2. A rotary mechanism, comprising: arm means supported forrotation around an upright axis, cup means on said arm means being movedthrough a plurality of stations; carrier means rotatably mounted on saidarm means and adapted to revolve around said upright axis, said carriermeans having a plurality of receptacles thereon movable into and out ofone of said sections; drive means for rotating said arm means; controlmeans governing the operation of said drive means; and linkage means onsaid arm means rotating and revolving said carrier means in response torotation of said arm means, the angular displacement of said carriermeans being different than the angular displacement of said arm means.3. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, including a second rotatablecarrier means mounted on said arm means and adapted to revolve around anupright axis, said second carrier means having a plurality ofreceptacles thereon movable into and out of said one of said stations,the axes of rotation of the first-mentioned carrier means and saidsecond carrier means being spaced and parallel; and second linkage meanson said arm means rotating and revolving said second carrier means inresponse to rotation of said arm means, the angular displacement of saidsecond carrier means being different than the angular displacement ofsaid arm means.
 4. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, wherein tHeangular displacement in degrees of said arm means is an even multiple ofthe angular displacement in degrees of said carrier means during each360* revolution of said arm means.
 5. A rotary mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein said arm means rotates around a first upright axis andsaid carrier means rotates around a second upright axis spaced from saidfirst axis, said cup means on said arm means being spaced radially fromsaid first axis a distance greater than the radial distance between saidsecond axis and the receptacles on said carrier means.
 6. A rotarymechanism according to claim 1, including: base means; table meanssupported upon said base means for substantially vertical movement withrespect thereto, said arm means being rotatably supported upon saidtable means; and fluid-actuated means connected between table means andsaid base means for effecting said vertical movement of said tablemeans, said fluid-actuated means being operated by said control means.7. A rotary mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of saidarm means is stopped when said cup means is positioned in three spacedstations around said rotational axis of said arm means, said cup meanson said arm means being in said one station when said carrier means issubstantially remote from said one station, and said cup means being inthe second one of said three stations when one of the receptacles onsaid carrier means is at said one station.
 8. A rotary mechanismaccording to claim 7, wherein said one station is spaced from the othertwo stations by 180* and 60*, respectively; and including bracket meansmounted adjacent the third one of said stations and conduit meanscounted upon said bracket means and directed at said cup means on saidarm means when said cup means is in said third station; a source ofwashing liquid, said conduit means being connected to said source; andvalve means in said conduit means and connected to said control meansfor controlling the discharge of said liquid.
 9. A rotary mechanism forintermittently and sequentially presenting a plurality of receptacles,comprising: base means; table means movably supported upon said basemeans for substantially vertical movement; actuating means connectedbetween said base means and said table means for effecting said verticalmovement; drive means supported on said table means; turret meanssupported on said table means and connected to said drive means, saidturret means having arm means rotatable about a first upright axis andcarrier support means mounted upon said arm means for rotation around asecond upright axis and revolution around said first upright axis; gearmeans supported on said arm means and effecting rotation and revolutionof said carrier support means in response to rotation of said arm means,said carrier support means rotating a predetermined amount of degreesevenly divisible into 360* with each 360*-rotation of said arm means;and control means for synchronizing the operation of said actuatingmeans and said drive means, said arm means having cup meansintermittently moved into and out of a plurality of stations.
 10. Arotary mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said cup means is in onestation when said carrier support means is substantially remote fromsaid one station; and wherein said table means and said turret means areraised and then lowered by said actuating means when said cup means isin said one station.
 11. A rotary mechanism according to claim 9,including annular carrier means supported upon said carrier supportmeans in a predetermined position with respect thereto and concentricwith said second axis, said carrier means having a plurality ofuniformly spaced receptacle positions arranged along the edge of saidcarrier means, said receptacle positions defining a circle concentricwith said second axis and being moved intermittently and sequentiallyinto and out of said one station, one receptacle position being movedinto said one station during each rotation of said arm means.
 12. Arotary mechanism, comprising: arm means supported for rotation around anupright axis, a point on said arm being moved through a plurality ofstations; an annular member mounted on said arm means for rotation withrespect to said arm means around an upright axis, said annular memberhaving a plurality of receptacles thereon movable into and out of one ofsaid stations; drive means for rotating said arm means, said drive meanscomprising a motor and first gear means connecting said motor to saidarm means; control means governing the operation of said drive means;and second gear means on said arm means connected between said firstgear means and said annular member for rotating said annular member inresponse to rotation of said arm means, said annular member beingremovably supported by said second gear means and having a plurality ofuniformly spaced receptacle openings arranged in a circle around theedge thereof, said circle being concentric with said rotational axis ofsaid annular member, and the angular displacement of said annular memberbeing different than the angular displacement of said arm means.